A good lighting plan can make all the difference in how your home looks and functions. It’s something too often overlooked by homeowners, says Kevin Walsh, owner of Trinity Kitchen, Bath & Lighting in New Haven, Ind.
“Whether we’re talking about new construction or a home remodel, there needs to be a lighting plan for things to look their best and function optimally,” he says. “It really doesn’t make a lot of sense to install expensive surfaces that are the jewels of our homes – fine cabinetry, stone counters – and then fail to properly light them.”
A good lighting plan makes life easier, safer and more enjoyable, indoors and out.
“There are three basic types of indoor lighting – ambient, task and accent,” Walsh explains.
Good ambient lighting provides even, overall brightness in a room, often achieved with ceiling-mounted fixtures.
Task lighting puts extra light where you need it for a specific function like using sharp knives in a kitchen, applying makeup in a bathroom or reading in a living room.
“Accent lighting is used to highlight something special in a room, like a painting above a fireplace,” says Walsh.
When choosing light fixtures, “It’s really important to see them up close, touch them, observe how they work,” says Walsh. “We have people come into the store and tell us they ordered fixtures online but had to return all of them because they looked different in person than they do on a website.”
It’s also important to understand the proportions of light fixtures you’re considering, says Walsh.
“It’s easy to look at a 24-inch orb with dangly jewels and fall in love. But does it make sense in the context of your home, hanging from your 8-foot ceiling? This is where working with someone who’s educated about lighting options can really help.”
Trinity can help you think through outdoor lights and landscape lighting, too.
“We match any price you find elsewhere on lighting, so you won’t pay more with us, but you will get more expertise and better service.”
Trinity Kitchen, Bath & Lighting has been locally owned since it opened in 1958. Walsh purchased it from the original owners 18 years ago.
Learn more by calling (260) 493-2574 or stop in at the showroom, 11034 Lincoln Highway East. ❚